Dispenser with variable rate flow control



Feb. 11, 1958 k I E. J. POITRAS 2,822,962

DISPENSER WITH VARIABLE RATE 110w CONTROL Filed April 1-, 1955 I lllllllll Y ma a 5 Invenba' as Edlvaa' d I 69% 2 WJw United States PatentC) DISPENSER WITH VARIABLE RATE FLOW CONTROL Edward J. Poitras,Holllston, Mass.

Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,620

19 Claims. (Cl. 222-481) This application relates generally to flowcontrolling devices and more particularly to liquid dispensers such assupplying disinfectant, lubricant, cleansing and the like liquids atregulated rates and over determined periods. The present invention aimsto provide an improved dispenser having novel provision for control andadjustment of dispensing flow rate, and also for constant head. .Thefurther invention object is to provide a dispenser uniquely andadvantageously formed and fitted for continuous and uniform liquid flowand for regulation of such flow, as correlated with supply volume, andadjusted to period length. The invention will be better understood froma consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the outlet of a liquid dispenser of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the dispenser of Fig. l,and showing more particularly the constant head providing and dispensingflow regulating means of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top view of an element of the flow regulating assembly ofFigs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section of the same taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

This invention is directed particularly to apparatus for dispensingautomatically, as from a concealed or unattended vessel or container,and at a constant, uniform generally slow rate. Such automatic levelflow dispensing apparatus is characterized generally by a container fora liquid supply, means for equalizing the pressure or head of suchsupply, and means for regulating the supply dispensing flow rate. Thepresent invention improves on the prior or conventional dispensingapparatus devices by the provision of novel self-contained means forstandardizing the head of the container supply. Constant, uniform flowdispensers are further improved under the invention by novel variablelength capillary passage means for regulating and adjusting the rate ofdispensing flow.

In accordance with the invention the dispensing flow is regulatedgenerally by plate means or members assembled and clamped face-to-face,and mounted further for relative shifting of their opposed faces. Theplate assembly is provided in the one member with an access passage oropening and in the other with a discharge passage or opening. Theshiftably clamped members are provided further and at the engaged faceof one plate with a groove communicating with these openings, whichgroove is closed and sealed by the opposed face of the other plate andproportioned to define therewith a capillary passage. The rate of flowthrough the assembly is adjusted by the relative shifting of the plates,whereby the access and discharge passages are ordered for communicationwith varying lengths of the capillary passage.

In the present embodiment the invention flow controlling means isincorporated ina conventional dispenser indicated generally at 10, Figs.1 and 2, and there shown to comprise more particularly a liquid vessel.orcontainersuch as commonly presenting an annular side wall 11 and fiatend or top and bottom walls 12, 13. In accordance with the invention, adischarge or dispensing outlet or opening is provided at any flat orplanar container wall, herein the bottom wall 13. It will be appreciatedthat the flow' controlling means of the invention may be applieddirectly to such bottom or other wall outlet or opening. Herein,however, the container outlet will be seen to comprise further aprojecting neck or sleeve 14 received through the bottom wall 13 andhaving a radial flange 14a overlying and welded or otherwise secured tothe same. The flow regulating means of the invention is applied to thesleeve 14 through a cup-shaped metal cap 15 received over and threadedor otherwise detachably secured thereto. This outlet closing,wall-forming cap 15 has a restricted, non-central outlet opening 15a,Fig. 2.

Integrally joined to the base of the cap 15 is a strengthen- 1 ing plate16 having a similar aligned opening 16a.

The invention flow regulating means is herein embodied in an annularplate or disc 17, which may be of rigid metal or plastic construction,and which is defined by opposite planar faces 18, 19 and a convenientlythin annular edge or periphery 20. The disc 17 is formed further and atits one or engaged side or flat face 18 with a shallow, elongated recessor groove 21. The open groove or recess 21 has such depth, width, andcontour as defines it when closed, as herein by the plate 16, as acapillary passage. It may, for example, be of annular or half roundsection and of, say, inch depth by $4 inch width, as providing a passageproportioned for capillary flow of the liquids here concerned. Thegroove 21 is seen further to extend from a closed inner end 21a, Fig. 3,through an intermediate section 211) of predetermined, herein annular orpart circular configuration to an outer tangential straight section 21cextending to the disc edge or periphery 20, Fig. 3.

In accordance with 'the invention, the plate 17 is mounted with thegrooved face 18 normally clamped against the outlet wall 16, and withthe predeterminately annular groove part 21b over the outlet opening15a, 16a. The dispensing flow passage thus comprises the outlet openings15a, 16a and continuous therewith the capillary passage 21, 16 shown indotted line in Figs. 1 and 2, and which may be characterized generallyas spiralingoutward to the plate and disc periphery.

The flow controlling means of the invention comprises further theshiftable mounting of the disc 17 at outlet wall 16 for adjusting thelength of the capillary passage 21, 16,

and thereby varying the rate of dispensing flow. Herein the groovedplate 17 is mounted for relative rotation whereby the outlet opening150, 16a communicates at varying points of and with varying lengths ofcircular groove part 21b. Such shiftable or movable mounting orpositioning of the disc 17 may be variously accomplished, as by afastening screw or pin 23 received through a central annular opening inthe plate 17 and threaded in or otherwise secured to plate 16. It willbe seen that the disc mounting may, as herein, be such as to constitutethe flow regulating assembly as a valve device, with the disc rotatableto a position of non-communication of the groove 21 with the outletopening 15a, 16a.

Further in accordance with the invention, the flow control plateelements 16, 17 are clamped together under spring tension, whereby tomaintain fluid tight the partible passage 21, 16 defined therebetween.The desired non-leak passage sealing tensioning of the parts may beaccomplished by forming an integral rib 22 on disc 17 opposite andparalleling the groove 21, and by clamping a dished washer 24 betweenthe head of the fastener 23 and said rib 22.

The container outlet may be variously fitted as desired or, expedientfor screening or filtering the container 0ut-- Patented Feb. 11, 1958like material capable of...

and filter paper" 26 m'ay beqpositionedvbetween rthe cap...

and a sealinggasket 27 also clamped betweerrzthe'. cap

and the rim of the outlet14.

Further'in accordance with the invention: novehmeans;

are provided for effecting at the containenoutleta cone stant unchangingliquid pressureor hea'd asrequired'tor the uniform, ev'en,levelflowherein-contemplated. The prior constant head devices will beunderstood to havc comprised generally an open vessel: over which thecontainer is inverted and from which the liquid is ultimatelydispensed.-- The fluid level-and hence flow controlling head ismaintained constant in the -op'envessel because such level supports anequilibrium-condition in the container. When the liquid level inthevessel drops, air bubbles into and decreases the vacuum in thebottle', releasing liquid' to thevessel until the' original head isrestored.

The separate and open vessel just described as-heretofore providinguniform head is not required with the invention apparatus. Consideringnow more particularly Fig. 2, an air inlet or" vent tube 28 is mountedentirely within the container and arranged to extend from a point orlevel'adjacent or proximate the container bottom wall 13 through thecontainer top 12. The air inlet or vent'tube 28 may be supported-on orfrom the container side or top by conventional means, not shown. It isfitted with a ball or the like check valve 29, Fig.2, preventing liquidloss or escape therethrough, as when the container is inverted forfilling.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that thedescribed construction provides a constant, uniform liquid head. Suchhead is seen to be equal to the difference in height of the dispensingoutlet and the container vent, or bottom of the tube 2%, which maybe,say, one inch above container bottom 13. While the container liquidcolumn abovethe level of the tubebottom is variable, it iscounterbalanced always by a like varying vacuum in the container aircolumn above said liquid column.

The advantageous operation of the invention apparatus will be readilyappreciated by those skilled in the art. The container is first filledfrom or through the neck 14 with a determined quantity of the desiredliquid. The liquid charge or supply may 'be such as calculated, inrespect of the rate of flow through the container out let, to beexpended in a desired length or period of time. In the case, forexample,'of a disinfectant drip device the container 14) may be such asconveniently stores and supplies, say, one quart of the disinfectant,and the drip rate may be such as expends or uses up such one quartliquid supply in, say, a one month or thirty-day period. The regulationof the flow or drip rate, or in other words of the length of thecapillary passage 21 has been shown to require a particular positioningof the plate 17. The manipulation of the plate 17 may be facilitated bythe provision thereon' of a lateral or edge extensive tab Zita, Fig. 3,and by marking or otherwise mounting on the container an index or scale30, Fig. l, with respect to which the index tab 28. 2 may be positioned.While the dispensing flow is desirably efiectively initiated by the heador weight of the entire fluid volume, such flow inducing liquid headwill be understood to be substantially instantaneously reduced to thedescribed control level by reason of the arrangement already described,and whereby a negative pressure or vacuum is created in the containerair volume.

It will be understood that numerous other and equivalent flowcontrolling assembly constructions may be provided without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the containerbottom may be provided as herein with an access opening and also at its.outer. or. under; face with a part circular. groovecommunicatingwith.theopening. In this case the disc rotata-.

bly clamped against said container bottom face would be provided eitherwith a discharge opening at the radius of the groove which groove woulddesirably extend not quite full circle, or with a radial dischargegroove extending from said radius to the disc periphery and communicablelike the opening with varying lengths of the circular groove. 7

From the foregoing it will be-appreciated that this 'invention providesnew and improved flow controlling and dispensing means, wherein a -fluidsupply is'maintained under constant or unifor mr-fiow inducingv orcontrolling pressure orhead by a self-contained air or vent tube, andwithout the use of open vessels ortother auxiliary devices. Theinvention apparatus has been shown further to provide novelly a variablelength capillary passage for regulating flow rate. This passage is seenas embodied in aunique assembly readily shiftable for i'low adjustment.and readily demountable for passage'cleaning, but normally clampedIandatensioned for desired non-leak sealingzof the parts. i

It will. be=understood .thatmyinvention is not limited to the exemplaryvembodimentsherein. illustrated or described,:and.I set forth'its scopein my following claims:

I claim:

l. .A flow'controbassembly-comprising a pair of platesassembled..face-toafacezonexsaid plate having a passage for access andthetothera passage for discharge of fluid supplied to said assembly, acapillary groove formed at and between'the opposed faces of said plates,and means for. releasably clamping saidiplates under spring tensionwhereby said groove is fluid sealed and whereby the plates areshiftable:-for communication of said passages with varying lengths of saidgroove.

2-. ,Flow regulating'means comprising a plate engageable atoneiface'ag-ainstia container outlet andformedat said .faceiwithacapillary groove adapted to be closed and sealed by said outlet andextending at one end only to theplateliperiphery,.said. groove arrangedupon shift ing of said plate relativesto said container for varyinglength communication with 'the outlet opening.

3. Flow regulating means comprising a'plate having an openingtherethrough, a disc .formed atone face with acapil'larycgrooveextending from a closed inner end to the disc edge, and means forshiftably mounting said disc with saidvgrooveisealed againstsaid plateand in adjustable length communication with said opening.

4. .Fluid dispensing apparatus comprising means detachably sealingtacontainertoutlensaid means formed at a fiat wallwith' a restricted.opening; a discformed at one face with: a groove extending from a closedinner end through a circular inner part to the disc edge, and meansforrotatablyrmounting said disc with said face sealed against said.wall. and .said circular groove part aligned withv said opening-wherebysaid groove and wall define a 'variable length capillary passage forfluid dispensed through said outlet.:

5; A flow controllingdispenser comprising a container having an outletand thereat .a restricted opening, a disc formed=at oneface with agroove extending at one end to the .disc edge, and means for shiftablysupporting and clamping saiddisc atand against said outlet and with saidgroove aligned with said opening, whereby the groove and. :outletdefinean adjustable length capillary flow passage'for: said dispenser.

6. A. variable rate flow control dispenser comprising a disc formedatone face with a groove extending from a closed inner end'to. the discedge, fastener means received through and for shiftably mounting saiddisc at the dispenser outlet and with said groove communicating through.theoutlet opening, and spring means associated with; saidfasten'crmeans and yieldably clamping said face against said outletwhereby the groove and outlet define Y a fluid sealed, variable lengthcapillary flow passage for said dispenser.

7. Variable rate, constant flow dispensing apparatus comprising acontainer having an outlet, a disc formed with a groove having an nnularinner part and an outer part extending to the disc edge, and means forrotatably mounting and yieldably clamping said plate at and against saidoutlet and with said inner groove part in communication with the outletopening.

8. Flow control apparatus comp-rising a pair of plates assembledface-to-face, an access passage in one and a discharge passage in theother of said plates, a capillary passage formed at and between theopposed faces of said plates and communicating with said access anddischarge passages, and means clamping said plates for fluid sealing ofsaid capillary passage comprising a projection on one of said plates andopposite the passage, fastener means received through said one andsecured to the other plate, and spring means tensioned between saidfastener means and said projection.

9. Dispensing apparatus comprising a closed container having a bottomwall outlet and an air inlet defined by an internal tube extendingthrough the container top and opening into the container proximate saidoutlet, and means for adjustably regulating the flow through saidoutlet, said means including a wall supported disc formed at its wallengaged face with a groove defining with the wall a restricted flowcontrolling passage, said disc positioned for communication of saidpassage with the outlet opening, and means for shifting said discrelative to said opening whereby to vary the flow conducting length ofsaid passage.

10. Dispensing apparatus comprising a container having a bottom walloutlet and a vent defined by an internal tube extending through thecontainer top and opening proximate said wall, said outlet including aplate having at one face a capillary groove extending from a closedinner end to the plate edge, and means for shiftably mounting said platewith said groove sealed against said wall and for adjustable lengthcommunication with said container. 11. Flow control means comprising aplate having an opening therethrough, a disc assembled to said plate andformed at its engaged face with a groove communicating with said openingand extending from a closed inner end to the disc edge, said grooveconstructed and arranged to define with said plate a restricted, flowcontrolling passage, and means for clamping said plate and disc underspring tension and thereby fluid sealing said passage.

12. A constant head even flow dispenser comprising a container for afluid supply and having a restricted flow controlling outlet, saidoutlet including opposed members formed at their engaged faces with afluid sealed capillary passage, and an air tube mounted within saidcontainer, said tube arranged for exposure to atmosphere at its one endabove said supply and for opening into said container at its other endat a determined height above said outlet. 13. Flow control apparatusaccording to claim 12 wherein said members are shiftable for varying thelength of said passage.

14. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply, arestricted flow controlling outlet on said container, said outletincluding means defining a capillary passage, an unrestricted air tubemounted within said container, said tube arranged for exposure toatmosphere at its one end above said supply and for opening into saidcontainer at its other end at a determined, fluid-headdefining heightabove said outlet, and means for varying the length of said capillarypassage.

15. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply,restricted variable length outlet means on said container for adjustablycontrolling the dispensing flow, and an unrestricted air tube mountedwithin said container, said tube having its one end opening toatmosphere through the external container wall above said supply andhaving its other end opening into said container at a determined heightabove said outlet means.

16. A dispenser according to claim 15 and check valve means associatedwith said tube and sealing the same against escape of said supply.

17. A constant head dispenser comprising a container for storing a fluidsupply, restricted variable length outlet means on said container foradjustably controlling the dispensing of said supply, and anunrestricted air tube mounted within the container, said tube having itsone end opening to atmosphere through the external container top walland having its other end opening into said container at a determinedheight above said outlet means.

18. A level flow dispenser comprising a container for a fluid supply, arestricted flow controlling outlet on said container, said outlet havingmeans defining a variable length capillary passage, and an unrestrictedair tube mounted within said container, said tube having its one endopening to atmosphere through the external container wall above saidsupply and having its other end opening into said container at adetermined height above said outlet.

19. A level flow dispenser comp-rising a container for fluid supply, arestricted flow controlling outlet for said supply, said outletincluding a variable length capillary passage, and an unrestricted airtube mounted within the container, said tube having its one end openingto atmosphere through the external container top wall and having itsother end opening into said container at a determined height above saidoutlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS286,588 Chalk Oct. 16, 1883 511,780 Kaplan Jan. 2, 1894 746,854Lichtenberg Dec. 15, 1903 2,333,310 Greening Nov. 2, 1943 2,336,313 SwanDec. 7, 1943 2,622,258 Giraud Dec. 23, 1952

